Dokuro (video game)
| Dokuro | |
|---|---|
 Box art | |
| Developer(s) | Game Arts[1] |
| Publisher(s) | GungHo Online Entertainment[1][2] |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation Vita |
| Release date(s) | Japan July 5, 2012[3] U.S. October 16, 2012[1] Canada November 6, 2012[4] Mexico November 6, 2012[4] Europe January 30, 2013 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle[5][6] |
| Distribution | PlayStation Network[7] |
Dokuro is a video game developed by Game Arts and published by GungHo Online Entertainment for the PlayStation Vita.[2] The player controls Dokuro, who must save a princess after the Dark Lord wants to marry her.[5]
Gameplay
The player is Dokuro, a skeletal worker for the Dark Lord.[6] One day, the Dark Lord captures a princess and forces her to marry him.[6] Dokuro sees the princess crying which breaks his heart and he thus decides to help her escape the Dark Lord's castle.[6] Dokuro can flip switches to open up paths,[7] carry the princess after drinking a potion,[7] as well as others. The game's levels grow steadily more complex as the game progresses.[1]
Development
The game uses a graphical style that imitates artwork in a children's storybook.[6] The game's director, Noriaki Kazama, previously worked on gory video games such as Ninja Gaiden Sigma under Team Ninja.[8] Kazama said that after he had a baby, he browsed through children's books at the bookstore and was inspired by the art style.[8]
Reception
IGN gave the game an 8.8, saying "Stunningly beautiful and exceptionally fun to play, Dokuro belongs in the library of every PlayStation Vita owner."[5] Joystiq claimed that "Despite the bony exterior, Dokuro feels like it has a real soul, like it was made by people who truly loved and believed in it. It's inspired, well-made, and thoroughly enchanting", giving the game a 4 out of 5.[6] GameInformer, however, gave the game a negative review, stating "Between its unforgiving nature, unbalanced difficulty, and humdrum puzzles, I wouldn’t have pressed on through Dokuro if I wasn’t reviewing it. Rarely did I feel that fun “a-ha” moment that makes puzzle games exciting; instead I found tedium and frustration. I surely wasn’t as devoted to this game as Dokuro was to the princess."[9]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Dokuro". IGN. Retrieved December 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fernandes, David. "GungHo Announces Dokuro Now Available at $9.99 for the Holidays". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved December 2012.
- ↑ "Upcoming PS Vita Game Dokuro (新作ゲームなのに破格の安さ！PS Vita『Dokuro』発売日決定)". Inside for All Gamers. Retrieved January 2012. (Japanese)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Yang, Stephanie. "Dokuro Delayed for Canada and Mexico, European Release Date Still Pending". Operation Rainfall. Retrieved December 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Moriarty, Colin. "Dokuro Review - Saving the princess in puzzling ways". IGN. Retrieved December 2012.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Kemps, Heidi. "Dokuro review: The Mr. Skullhead Show". Joystiq. Retrieved December 2012.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Spencer. "A Skeleton Saves A Princess On October 16". SiliconEra. Retrieved December 2012.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Yip, Spencer (Sep 28, 2012). "Having A Child Inspired Dokuro’s Director To Make Charming Games Instead Of Gory Ones". Siliconera. Retrieved Jan 1, 2013.
- ↑ Wallace, Kimberley. "Dokuro’s Love Remains Unrequited". GameInformer. Retrieved December 2012.